People fear what they do not understand. For Barbara, a teenage misfit who believes in giants, this causes a great deal of concern. From her point of view, if others do not understand and cower in fear from giants, then these creatures can cause all sorts of unchecked mayhem. However, the knife of understanding cuts both ways. People do not understand Barbara and fear for her well-being if she persists in what they see as deviant and anti-social behavior. As Barbara goes around town setting giant traps, ignoring her school and housework and isolating herself from others, the line between fantasy and the real world begins to blur. This has momentous impacts on those who love Barbara as well as Barbara herself.
This charming, quirky, funny and powerful film stirs up a lot of emotions. It involves intriguing and poignant themes about bullying, loneliness, confidence, friendship and more. The dialogue between characters is rich and deep, as is the imagery of the giants. Wonderful acting and organization of the scenes, which flow well from one to the other. The story is based on a graphic novel. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.